Tree-spraying mechanism.



PATBNTED DEG. 15. 1903-.

J. 0. GILL. TREE SPRAYING MECHANISM.

APPLiGATION FILED JPN 23,1902.

N0 MODEL.

iillllll Him? ATT

-with said platform, is a transverse shaft 3,

aprojection'll of the frame or platform 1.

NIT-E .TATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TREE-SPRAYlNG MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters P atent to. 746,953, datedDecember 15, 1903.

Application filed June 23, 1902.

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE O. GILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arnold,.in the county of Union and State of Ohio,haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tree-SprayingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of tree-spraying apparatus; andthe objects of my invention are to provide an improved construction ofspraying mechanism whereby the pressure on the liquid is attainedthrough the movement of the supporting-truck of the liquid-tank and toso construct my improved apparatus as to permit of the same being thrownout of gear when not in use for generating pressure and to produce otherimprovements the details of which will be more fully pointed outhereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy'improved spraying apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is acentral vertical section, of the tank which I employ in the mannerhereinafter described. 1

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable truck frame or platform1, which, as will be evident, may be in the nature of a desirable formof wagon bed. Journaled transversely beneath the platform or bed 1 in asuitable boxing or bearing 2, connected and on the outer ends of theseshafts are carried ground-wheels and 5. The inwardlyprojecting hubportion 6 of the wheel die in the nature of a clutch projection, thetoothed end portion of which is adapted to engage corresponding teeth ornotches in the outer end of a short clutch-sleeve 7, which is slidablymounted on the shaft 3. The sleeve 7 carries a gear-wheel 8 and also haspivotally connected therewith the bifurcated or yokelike end of anoperating-lever 9, said operating-lever being pivoted or fulcrumed at 10to Upon the platform or frame 1 I'support vertically a liquid-holdingtank 12 of suitable dimensions. Leading into the tank 12 through theupper side thereof is an air-inlet Serial to. 112,735. (No model.)

{pipe 13, the lower end of this pipe being, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, adjacent to the bottom of the tank. The upper and outer endportion of the pipe 13 is suitably connected with the upper end of anair-pump cylinder 14:, said cylinder preferably being supported, asshown, adjacent to the outer side of the tank 12 and parallel therewith.Within the air-pump cylinder is a piston 15, which is carried on the endof a piston-rod 16, which extends downward through the lower end of thecylinder 14 and works in a suitable guide projection 17 on the outerside of the tankl2. Mounted in a bracket 18, which projects laterallyfrom the platform 1, is a short shaft 19, on the outer end of which iscarried a comparatively wide pinion 20, with the teeth of which isadapted to gear or mesh the teeth of the gear-wheel 8.

On the inner end of the shaft 19 is carried a disk 21, and with thisdisk is pivotally and eccentrically connected the lower end of aconnecting or driving rod 22. The rod 22 has its upper end pivotallyconnected with the piston-rod 16, as indicated at 23. Leading outwardfrom the lower portion of the tank 12 is a liquid-conducting outlet-pipe24:, the latter having its lower termination adjacent to the bottom ofthe tank and being provided on the outer side of the tank, as indicatedin Fig. 1, with a suitable valve 25. With this pipe 24 is connected adesirable length of flexible hose 26 and with the latter a nozzle-pipe27, which terminates in a suitable form of spray-nozzle 28. Affixed toone side of the nozzle 28 is the lower portion of an outwardly-extendingand inwardly-curved spraying-plate 29, the outer termination of which isover the outlet of the nozzle 28. Secured upon the nozzlepipe 27 in rearof the nozzle 28 is a convex disk or shield 30. As indicated at 31, Imay provide the upper end of the tank 12 with a suitable pressure-gage,and, as shown, the platform or frame 1 may have connected therewith inany desirable manner a suitable form of tongue 1.

In utilizing my invention the tank 12 is partially filled with theliquid which is to be used for spraying the leaves and branches oftrees. Assuming that the lever 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawingsthat is, in such position as to cause engagement of theclutch-sleeve 7 with the clutch projection 6-it will be understood thatthe rotary movement of the ground-wheels produced in the travelingmovement of the truck to the point at which the same is to be used willresult, through the gear connections described, in a rotary movement ofthe shaft 19 and disk 21 and in a consequent reciprocating motion of therods 22 and 16. This reciprocating motion of the piston-rod 16 resultsin the usual manner in such operation of the air-pump as to force airinto the tank ,through the pipe 13. The air thus introduced into saidtank under pressure is delivered, as shown, at or adjacent to the bottomof the tank, with the result that in rising to the top of the liquidcontained therein the air serves to produce a desirable agitation ofsaid liquid and a consequent mingling or mixture of the ingredientscontained in said liquid. The air thus introduced into the tank placesthe liquid therein under pressure, and when the valve 25 is opened theliquid is thus forced outward through the pipe portions 26 and 27 andnozzle 28 against the plate 29, which results in deflecting the spraylaterally. In order to prevent the spray or any portion thereof cominginto contact with the hands and garments of the operator, I provide thedisk 30, which serves to shield the hand and arm of the operator. It isobvious that as the tank-bearing truck is moved from tree to treeadditional supplies of compressed air are provided within the tank andthat in case a sufficient air-pressure has been generated within saidtank the lever 9 may be so thrown as to disengage the clutch-sections 6and 7 and permit the movement of the wheels 4: and 5 without operationof the air-pump. Owing 'to the double width of the pinion 20, it will beobserved that this pinion will at no time be out of gear with thegear-wheel 9.

From the construction herein shown and described it will be seen that asimple, reliable, and effective mechanism is provided whereby trees maybe readily sprayed for the purpose of protecting the same against damageby worms or insects.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with atruck-frame, and axle therefor and ground-wheels upon the axle, one ofthe wheels having a clutch member, of a gear slidably mounted upon theaxle and having a clutch member for engagement with the clutch member ofsaid ground-wheel, a lever intermediately fulcrumed upon the truck andhavinga swiveled connection with the gear, a counter-shaft mounted uponthe frame, a pinion upon the counter-shaft and in mesh with the gear, acrank-disk carried by the counter-shaft, a tank upon the truck, anupright pump-cylinder carried by the tank, a piston within the cylinder,a piston-rod piercing the bottom of the cylinder and working in guidesupon the tank, a connecting-rod between the crank-disk and thepiston-rod, an air-pipe leading from the top of the pumpcylinder throughthe upper portion of the tank to the bottom thereof, an outlet-pipeleading from the lower portion of the tank and provided with a valve, aflexible pipe connected to the valved pipe, and a spraynozzle carried bythe flexible pipe.

JESSE C. GILL.

In presence of- C. O. SHEPHERD, W. L. MORROW.

